After feedback sessions, BJP embarks on homage trips to Covid-hit cadres

LUCKNOW: Days after party general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh’s three-day feedback sessions, BJP state chief Swatantra Dev and state general secretary (organisation) Sunil Bansal have started touring Uttar Pradesh to visit the relatives of cadres who died due to Covid-19.

Between them, the two leaders would tour all 75 district and meet grief-stricken families of cadres, an exercise aimed at communicating to foot soldiers that the party stands with them in a crisis, BJP insiders said.

Since March 2020, three UP ministers, seven lawmakers, many of their family members and countless cadres have died of Covid-19 infection.

Besides, the party’s decision to discourage the cadres from letting their families contest the zila panchayat elections and subsequent expulsions of many of them for contesting against the party-backed candidate had angered the party’s rank and file, party leaders admitted.

A BJP LEADER

“Unlike the assembly elections, which are fought on party lines, the zila panchayat polls aren’t contested on party symbols. Parties were, however, allowed to back candidates. By officially backing candidates for 3051 zila panchayat ward, the party ended up angering its cadres, many of whom contested as independents and won. The party acted against them for violating party line. Those who didn’t, contributed in a big way to the party candidate’s loss,” a BJP cadre said.

They cited the case of an influential party leader from Unnao who was convicted in a criminal case and was disqualified as an MLA.

“The party subsequently decided to back his wife for the post of zila panchayat member but after announcing her name, it subsequently withdrew it. If one of the party members erred didn’t mean that the entire family has committed a mistake. It’s like punishing a whole family for an individual’s mistake. Moreover, it would have still been okay had the party not declared the ex-MLAs wife as a candidate but withdrawing her name after announcement was like double humiliation,” another BJP cadre said.

“Since the panchayat polls overlapped with Covid-grief, cadres felt doubly dejected as there were many, including several lawmakers, who cited helplessness in arranging hospital beds and oxygen even for their own family members at the peak of Covid surge during the second wave in April,” a BJP leader said.

“Now, the party is on a course correction ahead of the indirect polls for 75 zila panchayat adhyaksh posts, and rightly so,” yet another party cadre, who requested anonymity said.

The BJP is now hoping to induct cadres to various vacant party positions, including many frontal wings and bodies. Appointments are to be made to many corporations and boards. Besides, there are seven vacancies in the Yogi Adityanath government and four posts of members of legislative council (MLCs) have to be filled.

“Not only that for 2022 UP polls, cadre-feedback would be included in a big way as reports of booth committees would also be considered before finalising tickets,” a party leader said adding that ahead of elections the party intends to focus on cadre management in a big way.

Since the panchayat polls overlapped with Covid-grief, cadres felt doubly dejected as there were many who cited helplessness in arranging hospital beds and oxygen even for their own family